Prospective payment requires increased attention to quality of post hospital care

The quality of post hospital care is of growing importance as length of stay in hospitals declines and patients are discharged with greater dependency and instability in their conditions. Recovery and rehabilitation and, at times, even survival are contingent upon post hospital care being accessible and adequate. However, it is difficult to monitor and evaluate post hospital care and typically no one institution can be held responsible for its quality. Quality assurance in post hospital care requires interorganizational collaboration and social workers can take the lead in establishing these programs.